2009 SU Update: For Love of the Game

 The Four ‘Heroes’ of Zeleznik

Every sports event has its heroes. Not necessarily the athletes who perform well on the field of play, on the contrary, they sometimes are rather ‘unknown soldiers’ who deliver a titanic struggle behind the scenes. Predrag Milanovic, Stanko Beocanin, Emran Redzepi and Jovan Babic might well be these unsung heroes of the 25th Summer Universiade. Their story is one of club pride, love for the game of football and maybe the most important, an unshakeable faith in oneself.

Železnik is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade’s municipality of Čukarica, 12 km southwest from downtown Belgrade. FK Železnik was originally founded in 1930, boasting a long and rich sport history. When the Republic of Yugoslavia dissolved, the club played in the sixth division and moved up year by year finally playing a number of seasons in the Serbian premier league. Its biggest successes were during the 2002/2003-season (4th place), and a 3rd place in the 2003/2004-season behind giants Red Star and Partizan. During the 2004/2005-season the club ended 8th but folded due to financial problems and later on the club merged with FK Vozdovac.

With the Universiade coming along, former player Predrag Milanovic saw the opportunity for the nearly abandoned ‘Mali Poljud’ stadium to rise from its ashes. He got some help from Stanko Beocanin, Emran Redzepi and Jovan Babic and the foursome started the works to renovate the stadium on May 5th and worked 12 hours a day to refurbish the venue. They painted more than 3,000 m² and with one more week to go they only have to add the finishing touch. ‘The toughest job was the maintenance of the pitch’, Milanovic said. ‘At first we had an 8-year old lawn mower but we were lucky to get a replacement. Things got better then. On June 30th, when the kick-off will be given in the Stadium for the preliminary round of the Universiade Football competition, the soccer players will find a great pitch where they can excel. 60 practices and 12 games (7 women’s and 5 men’s) will take place at Zeleznik. And the stands will be full. ‘The people from the town will come in masses’, Predrag added. ‘The entrance will be free and they love football.’

High level football has finally returned to Mali Poljud.